Abstract. We introduce the network software architecture of the distributed interactive virtual environment platform. The platform is designed to scale with a large number of simultaneous participants, while ensuring maximum interaction at each site. Scalability is achieved by making extensive use of multicast techniques and by partitioning the virtual space into smaller regions. We also present an application-level backbone that can connect islands of multicast-aware networks together.

Print publication: Issue 3 (September 1998)
Received 6 March 1998